Casing machine for cigar-wrapper leaves



Oct. 26, 1937. c. I. VELLNER CASING MACHINE FOR CIGAR WRAPPER LEAVES Filed June 6, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. vzdreflf l. lZZzzer:

BY M flu? A T TORN E Y6.

Oct. 26, 1937. c. VELLNER 2,097,168

CASING MACHINE FOR CIGAR WRAPPER LEAVES Filed June 6, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 014719;, I JZZryezr ATTORNEYS:

Filed June 6, .1935

4 Sheets-Sheet 15 ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 26, 1937. c, VELLNER I 2,097,168

CASING MACHINE FOR CIGAR WRAPPER LEAVES I IN V EN TOR. C'Zdrerzce VeZZryer.

74 QW gm: 9344*.

A TTORNEYS.

, 20 collection of moisture on wrapper leaves causes during the easing Operat on 20 Patented Oct- 26,1937

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE CASING MACHINE FOR CIGAR-WRAPPER LEAVES Clarence I. Vellner, Detroit, Mich., assig'nor to Air Conditioning Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application June 6,1935, Serial No. 25,223

15 Claims. (Cl. 131-55.)

This invention relates to the conditioning of by an attendant and so that the leaves may be tobacco leaves adapted to be used as wrapper removed from the machine at the proper time.

leaves in the manufacture of cigars. A further object is to prevent condensed mois- Tobacco leaves for cigar manufacture have e from c tact t co leaves during heretofore usually been'conditioned by moving the casing operation.' Y I I the leaves manually in a humidified atmosphere It 8 an t ObJ 0f h lnventlon Provide for a period of from three to four hours for Conmeans r Co t t e sture content and necticut shade grown leaves, or for an overtemperature of t e atmosphere c cu at d and night period of from eight t t hours for applied to the tobacco leaves, and gradually to 10 Sumatra wrapper leaves. This c nditi nin pincrease both the moisture content and temperaoration is usually termed casing. Casing inture of the circulated atmosphere during the eascreases the moisture content of the leaves so e p f I as to condition the latter to have the proper; It is a further Object o pp y Co t o ed elasticity and pliability and thus to facilitate Wrapamounts of moisture at controlled temperatures ping of cigars and h pe accomphshed, to all parts of the tobacco leaves and in gradually 15 preserves the original color of the wrapper leaves. increasing quantities at adua ly i creasing tem- The Sumatra wrapper leaves, especially,'become Dentures during the casing operation. darkened when moisture is allowed to remain Another j t of the invention is, mechanthereon for any material length of time. This ly to keep the leaves eenet fly in motion "ofiL h d cigars which are thrown out as A further object is to move the leaves in cycles onds and even where a wrapper is darkened uniends of the leaves f0rem0st,- first into a formly the impression is given a buyer that he conditioned air current adapted toseparate or is receiving a strong cigar. For thi reason, and spread the leaves, then to draw the leaves through also to improve the flavor of cigars, manufactursimhal' curljen'fis ppl ed to Opposite faces 25 ers premium prices fo light Sumatra leaf of the leaves while holding the leaves to a carrier tobaccm 1n such a manner that the maximum circulation In casing tobacco, it is essential that just the of is effected thrhugh the W proper amount of moisture be applied to'the A Shh further l of 1ihe v t on is to leaves since the wrapper than is too wet does not insure uniform moisture content of all tobacco possess suflicient elasticity to roll properly, thus of Same type case, h b e P ction reducing production and increasing the number of uniform numbers of clears per u tamount of of cigars which have to be rejected as seconds. tobacco case It is an object 'of this invention to improve the other objects features and advantages h 33 art of casing tobacco leaves come apparent from the following description 35 Another object is to provide an automatic toand appended f bacco casing machine which applies the correct For the purpose of ihustratmg the gehhs of the amount f moisture wrapper leaves. and invention, a typical concrete embodiment of toplies Such moisture t all times at cdrrect bacco-casing machine is illustrated in the accomperatures in such a manner that the wrapper D yi g drawings, in w c 40 leaves are not changed from their original color. ure 1 is a lon al a d vertical section A further object is to redu e the time required taken Substantially Centrally through t e eaSin for casing tobacco leaves. machine;v -It is also an object of the invention to direct Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substa-nconditioned air currents within the casing matially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

chine in such a manner that the'leaves are first Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on the line 3-3 separated or spread out and then are. drawn of Fig. 1, the conveyor means for the tobacco through conditioned air currents directed first' leaves and other parts being removed to illusagainst one surface of the leaves. and then trate only the arrangement of the air conditioning against the opposite surface thereof, and this ducts; X

process repeated throughout the casing operation. Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical section taken Another object is to render the operation of the substantially on the line 015 Fig.

casing machine visible so that the condition of .Fig. 5 isa similar section taken in the opposite 5 the tobacco leaves may be determined at all times direction and on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

section taken on' as indicated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and more especially to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the present automatic tobaccocasing machine is illustrated as comprising an insulating box I providing a treating chamber l2 therein in which is mounted a Ferris wheel type conveyor l4. The conveyor 4 includes'a shaft l5 journaled for rotation in suitable bearings in the side walls of the insulatedbox II and has a plurality of'pairs of radially extending and axially opposed arms l6 fixed thereto. The outer ends of each; of the arms I6 are. provided with. inwardly directed studs I1 on which a plurality of racks are adapted to be suspended each by a pair of open hooks 2|. The racks 20 each include a pair of end plates 22 to which the hooks 2| are fixed and the plates are connected in each instanceby two sets of parallel rods 23, the rods of each set also being arranged in triangular relation, as indicated in Fig. 1; Bundles of tobacco leaves, usually termed hands", each hand usually comprising approximately eighteen leaves of tobacco tied together with a soft stem at the butt end thereof, are hung over each of the sets of rods 23 of racks 20 with the butt ends of the leaves uppermost and the hand divided about in the middle. Approximately fourteen hands are draped over each of the sets of vrods 23 .of each rack 20, care being exercised in'hanging the hands so that the leaves ofone hand do not lie over the leaves of adjacent ahands. A wire retainer 25, in the form of a closed loop shaped as indicated in Figs. 5, 8, and 9, is then forced downwardly over the butt ends of the hands 24 and over the uppermost rod 23 of each of the sets of rods of racks 20 to lock the hands 24 upon the racks. The Ferris wheel conveyor I4 is adapted'to be driven by amotor 26 through a speed reduction unit 21, sprocket gears 28 and 30'and a sprocket chain3l so as to rotate the racks 20 in a circular path within the treating chamber I2. An adjustable idler means 32 may be provided for taking up slackof sprocket chain 3|.

The hands 24 of tobacco leaves thus secured to,

the racks 20 are rotated through a series of air currents carrying suspended moisture and indicated generally by the arrows 33, 34, 35, and 36.

The direction of rotation of the Ferris wheel type this process is repeated throughout the casingoperation. I

The air is re-circulated through the treating chamber 12 by means of'a double turbine type blower 40, indicated in Figs. 1 and 7, which is provided with an intake conduit 4| and an outlet conduit 42. The turbine 4|! is adapted to be driven by means of a motor 43 through the belt means 44 and suitable pulleys mounted on the motor and blower shafts. The intake conduit 4| is divided by means of a longitudinally directed partition 45 into upper and lower sections 46 and 41 and a damper 50 is disposed within the intake conduit'4l so asto control the relative amounts of air passed through the upper or heated section 46 andthe lower or by-pass section 41 of the intake conduit. The damper 5|] is adapted to be automatically controlled and to this end is operated by a motor- 5| which is controlled by a thermostat 52, or other suitable temperature responsive means located just beyond an eliminator section 53 arranged within and adjacent the discharge end of outlet conduit 42. A heat interchanger 54 is arranged within the upper section 46 of intake conduit 4| and is under the control of the thermostat or temperature responsive means 52 which also controls a motorized valve" 55 arranged in the steam line of the heat interchanger 54. Thus the thermostat means 52 at one temperature limit will serve to turn on steam to the heat interchanger 54 and operate damper 50 so as to close the by-pass section '41 of intake conduit 4| and at another temperature limit will turn off the steam to the heat interchanger and open the by-pass conduit 41.

Air is drawn from the upper portion of the treating chamber|2 through the intake conduitv 4| of blower 46 and forced through the exhaust conduit 42 and a spray chamber 56 disposed within the latter. Water is supplied to the spray chamber 56 from the city mains and is passed through'a steam jacketed coil 51 controlled by by-pass valve means 58 and through a pipe'60 leading to spray chamber 56. Spray heads 6| are disposed in the spray chamber 56 in opposed relation andeach is connected by a pipe 62 to an air compressor 63. A solenoid valve 64 is-pr'eferably connected in series in the circuit of the compressor motor so that water and air may be turned on through operation of a common switch.

The by-pass valve means 58 is set to supply water at a predetermined temperature and need be adjusted only to compensate for seasonal changes in the .temperature of water supplied from city mains. Suitable drain connections are led from various sections of the treating chamber l2 to a drain trap 65 to drain moisture which may condense at certain points within the apparatus.

Transparent doors 66 are provided for loading the apparatus and a light61 is placed within the into the treating chamber l2 at one side and at approximately the same level as that of shaft I5 of conveyor 14, the discharge end of outlet or ejector duct 1| being inclined slightly downwardly so that the air currents 33 leadingtherefrom are projected in such a direction that the hands 24 are drawn upwardly therethrough during rotation of carrier l4. The ejector duct 12 5 located adjacent the floor of treating chamber I2 and projects air currents 34 and 35 upwardly so as to separate and spread the leaves of hands 24 prior to their being drawn through the air currents 33. The third outlet or ejector duct I3 is arranged adjacent the front of the casing machine just above loading doors 66 and projects the air currents 35 upon the opposite faces of the leaves of hands 24 from the faces of the leaves contacted by the air currents 33. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, the ducts I2 and 13 are IS, a part of which forms the bottom wall of the intake conduit 4| and through a ventilating grill 29 arranged adjacent the air compressor 63. The additional air is drawn into the machine so that the air pressure within the treating chamber I2 will not be below atmospheric pressure due to pressure losses incurred in intake and outlet 1 conduits 4| and 42, blower 40 and discharge'ducts ll, I2. and 13. The pressure within the treating chamber is adjustable by varying the amount of additional air drawn into the machine. To this end adjustable slide doors 38 are provided at the intake ends of conduits I8 and these are adjusted. preferably so that atmospheric pressure will be maintained within the treating chambcr I2. Pressures below atmospheric would allow only incomplete casing of the tobacco and pressures too much above atmospheric pressure in chamber I2 would result in too wet tobacco as well as causing losses of conditioned air from the machine.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 6, condensation formed on the shaft I of the Ferris wheel conveyor I4, is prevented from dropping on the hands 24 of tobacco by means of a dispenser 11 comprising a frame 18, pads 80 and one or more layers of absorbent material, such as cotton cloth 8| wound over the frame 18. penser spreads any water which may drop from the shaft I5 through the cloth layers 8| and pads 80 so that moisture in the form of drops will not contact the hands of tobacco leaves during rotation of carrier I4. Condensation formed adjacent the outlet of the ejector ducts II and 13 is carried away by means of drain tubes 82 and 83 leading to the drain trap 65 and thence to a sewer. A baffle 84, Fig. 1, is provided at the upper portion of the treating chamber I2 to prevent short circuiting of air currents 36 blowing from the ejector duct 13. A thermometer 85 is placed in the pipe leading from heat interchanger 51 and by-pass valve means 58 to the spray chamber 56 to indicate the temperature of water delivered to the spray chamber.

Referring to Fig. 10, the thermostat or temperature responsive means-indicated at 52 in Fig. 1, will be explained more in detail. This means serves as a heat control regulator and consists of an electric motor 86 adapted to operate under load at a speed of approximately 2700 R. P. M. The shaft of the motor 86 is provided with a pinion 81 adapted to drive a gear 88 which has fixed to its shaft a pinion gear 90 adapted to drive a gear 9|. The above pinions and gears are preferably of the spur type and the ratio of gears 81 to 8B and 90 to 9| is 1 to 15 in each This (115- I instance. The shaft of the gear 9| is provided with a worm 92 adapted to drive a worm wheel 93 and has a gear ratio of 1 to 10. The shaft of the worm wheel ,93 has fixed thereto a worm 94 adapted to drive a worm wheel 95 and this unit likewise has a gear ratio of 1 to 10. The shaft of the worm wheel 95 has fixed thereto a beveled pinion 96 adapted to drive a bevel gear 91 at a gear ratio of 1 to 9. Thus the gears 81 to 91, inclusive, afford a gear reduction ratio of 202,500 to 1, so that the motor 86 operating at a rate of approximately 2700 R. P. M. will cause the bevel gear 91 to make approximately two revolutions in a period of 2 hours. The gear 97 is non-rotatably fixed to the heat adjusting screw 98 of temperature controller I00 which is adjustable and calibrated so that one revolution of the adjusting screw 98 sets. the temperature controller'for a one degree rise in temperature. The temperature responsive element IIlI of the temperature controller I00 is adjustably carried by the screw 98 and adapted to operate a mercury tube switch I02 which in turn controls the electrically operated valve 55 of heat interchanger 54 and also controls the motor 5| of damper 50 to direct air through the heat interchanger 54 or to by-pass the air. around the heat interchanger through the conduit section 41 of the blower intake conduit 4|. The

bevel gear 91 is slidably, but non-rotatably,

mounted on the adjusting screw shaft 98 by splining or by a slot and key connection so that the gear may be lowered againstthe tension of a spring I05 by a manual control knob I06 provided for the purpose of manually adjusting or pro-setting the temperature controller I00.

In casing tobacco leaves, the hands 24 are prepared and fastened tothe racks 20 as previously indicated. Just prior to the assembling of hands 24 upon the. racks 2D, the prepared hands are stood butt ends downward in a dipping rack so that about 2 inches of the butt ends are under water at a temperature of approximately '70 degrees F. The butt ends of the hands remain under water for a period of three minutes and are then drained for a period of about three hours 7 before being cased. The hands 24 are then assembled upon the racks 20 and wire retainers 25 snapped into place in.such a manner that the retainers are fairly tight over the hands 24. The racks 20 are then hung upon the studs ll of the rotatable conveyor I4 by means of the hooks 2|.

Before starting the casing machine the temperature of the water delivered by spray nozzles BI is adjusted to '70 degrees F. A blower 40 is then turned on, followed by turning on the spray motor and the doors 66 of the casing machine are kept closed for a period of about fifteen minutes. This is approximately the time required for loading the racks 20. In loading the casing machine, the spray nozzles 5| are turned off, followed by the shutting down of the blower 4D. The doors 66 are then opened and rotation of the Ferris wheel conveyor I4 is initiamd by means of motor 20 and in the directions indicated by arrows 31. The switch for controlling the motor 26 is preferably located just inside the door 65. The loaded racks 20 are then suspended from studs H by means of the hooks 2| during rotation of the carrier I4. An

experienced attendant requires only one or two tween 78 and 80 degrees F. when loading the easing machine. The temperature controller I is set at 80 degrees F. and the motor 86 started so that the temperature with in the treating chamber It will rise at a rate of approximately 2 degrees F. during a 2 hour period. The heat interchangers are supplied with steam at'a pressure of 15 pounds or less, reducing valves being hours while Connecticut shade grown wrapper leaves require approximately from one to one and one-half hours. The dampers" provided in outlet duct 12 are adjusted so that the leaves of hands 24 are blown apart when passing over the air.

currents 34 and 35. This adjustment is preferablymade with the doors 66 closed while having dry tobacco loaded on the carrier and over the outlet duct 12 with the blower 40 running. The other dampers l5 and 16 may be adjusted as required to give the proper degree of uniformity in the casing operation.

During operation of the casing machine, the tobacco making up the hands 24 is moved into .the conditioned air currents 34 and 35 as the Ferris wheel conveyor carries the racks 20 over the outlets of the lower duct 12 and is drawn through the air currents 33 and 36 of the racks of the two upper ducts II and 13. This arrangement accomplishes the results which were attempted to be achieved by hand manipulation in prior casing practice. The racks 20 hold the tobacco in such a manner as to permit the maximum amount of circulation of air through the tobacco so that moistureis applied to every part of the leaves in a gradual manner. The amounts and temperatures of air and moisture applied to the leaves are readily controllable and the tobacco is kept constantly in motion mechanically while being securely locked on the racks by the wire retainers 25. Themoisture content of' the tobacco cased by the machine is uniform for each type of tobacco conditioned, thus insuring approximately uniform numbers of cigars per unit weight of leaf tobacco cased without depending upon the skill of an attendant. The original colors of the tobacco cased are retained and the tendency to darken or streak practically eliminated.

As many changes could bemade in the above construction and methods and many apparently widely different embodiments and processes of carrying out this invention could be had without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is: y

1. Apparatus for easing tobacco, comprising in combination a movable carrier for conveying in a circular path hands of tobacco leaves suspended vertically on said carrier, a plurality of ducts arranged at spaced points about said circular path and adapted to direct humidified air in substantially radially inward directions with respect to the center of said circular path, one of said ducts being arranged to direct humidified air in a generally upward direction against said hands to steam may separate the leaves thereof, other ducts being arranged to direct humidified air against opposite faces of the leaves of said hands, means for moving .said conveyor, and means for causing fiow of humidified air from said ducts.

2 Apparatus for easing tobacco, comprising in combination a chamber, a movable carrier mounted therein for conveying hands of tobacco leaves suspended at all times vertically thereon, a plurality of ducts arranged to direct humidified air against said leaves alternately in a direction substantially from tip to butt ends of the leaves for separating the leaves of said hands and then against opposite faces of the leaves, means for moving said carrier, means for causing flow of humidified air fro'm said, ducts, and means for controlling the temperature of said humidified air.

3. Apparatus for casing tobacco, comprising in combination a chamber, a movable carrier mounted therein for conveying hands of tobacco leaves suspended vertically thereon, a plurality of ducts arranged to direct humidified air against said leaves alternately in a direction substantially from tipto butt ends of the leaves for separating the leaves of said hands and then against opposite faces of the leaves, means for moving said carrier, means for causing flow of the humidified air from said ducts, means for controlling the temperature of said humidified air, and means for operating said temperature control means so as gradually to increase .the temperature of the humidified air.

4. Apparatus for casing tobacco, comprising in combination a chamber, a Ferris wheel conveyor mounted for rotation therein, means for rotating said conveyor, means for securing hands of tobacco leaves at all times in vertically suspended positions on said conveyor, means for circulating air through said chamber including a plurality of ducts adapted to discharge currents of air at spaced points around said conveyor and in substantially radially inward direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the conveyor, at least one of said ducts being arranged so as to discharge air in a substantially vertically upward direction for spreading the leaves of said hands,

means for adding water to the air circulated through said chamber, means for controlling the amounts and temperatures of water added to said air, means for controlling the temperature of the air and water circulated, and means for gradu ally increasing the temperature-of the circulated air and water to prevent occurrence of a dew point condition within the chamber as the moisture content of the circulated air increases.

5. Apparatus for casing tobacco, comprising in combination a chamber, a movable carrier for hands of tobacco leaves mounted in said chamber, means. formoving said carrier, means for circulating air in said chamber including a blower provided with intake and outlet conduits, said outlet conduit being provided with a plurality of discharge ducts adapted to direct air against the handsmounted on said carrier from points spaced around said carrier, a heat interchanger for heating ,the air circulated by said blower, means forby-passing air around said heat interchanger, means for controlling the relative amounts of air passed through said heat interchanger and by-passed therearound, valve means for controlling the operation of said heat interchanger, means for controlling the operation of said heat interchanger,-means for controlling the operation of the means for by-passing air around the heat interchanger, and temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of both of the control means for the heat interchanger and for the by-pass means,

6. Apparatus for casing tobacco, comprising in combination a chamber, a movable carrier for hands of tobacco mounted in said chamber, means for moving said carrier, means for circulating air in said chamber including a blower provided with intake and outlet conduits, said outlet conduit being provided with a plurality of discharge ducts adapted to direct air from spaced points around said carrier against the hands mounted thereon, a heat interchanger for heating the air circulated by said blower, means for bypassing airaround said heat interchanger, means for controlling the relative amounts of air passed through said heat interchanger and by-Dassed therearound, valve means for controlling the operation of said heat interchanger, means for controlling the operation of the by-pass means, temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of both the control means for the heat interchanger and for the by-pass means, and means for operating said temperature responsive means so as to cause an increase in the temperature of the air circulated.

7. Apparatus for easing tobacco, comprising in combination a chamber, a movable carrier for hands of tobacco leaves mounted'in said chamber, means for moving said carrier, means for circulating air in said chamber including a blower provided with intake and outlet conduits, said outlet conduit being provided with a plurality of discharge ducts arranged at spaced points around said carrier and adapted to direct air against the leaves mounted thereon, a heat interchanger for heating the air circulated by said blower, means for adding water to the air circulated through said outlet conduit, means for by-passing air around said heat interchanger, means for. controlling the relative amounts of air passed through said heat interchanger and by-passed therethrough,.valve means for controlling the operation of the heat interchanger, means for controlling the operation of said by-pass means,

temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of both the control means for the heat interchanger and for the by-pass means, and.

means for operating said temperature responsive means so as to cause an increase in the temperature'of the air circulated.

8. Apparatus for casing tobacco, comprising in combination a chamber, a movable carrier for hands of tobacco leaves mounted in said chamber, means for moving saicLcarrier, means for circulating air in said chamber including a blower provided with intake and outlet conduits, said outlet conduit being provided with mplurality of discharge ducts arranged at spaced points around said carrier and adapted to direct air against the leaves mounted thereon, a heat interchanger for heating the air circulated bysaid" blower, means for adding water to the air circulated through said outlet'conduit, means for bypassing air around said heat interchanger, means for controlling the relative amounts of air passed through said heat interchanger and lay-passed therearound, valve means for controlling the operation of said heat interchanger, means for controlling the operation of said by-pass means, temperature responsive means for controlling the operation of the control means for both the heat interchanger and for the by-pass means, and aconstant speed operator for slowly and gradually chamber as the moisture content of the circulated air increases.

9.- Apparatus for casing tobacco comprising in combination a chamber, a movable carrier for hands of tobacco leaves mounted in said chamber, means for moving said carrier, means for circulating air in said chamber including a blowe provided with a plurality of discharge ducts ar-. ranged at spaced points around said carrier'and adapted to direct air against the hands mounted thereon, a heat i'nterchanger for heating the air circulated by said blower, means for adding water to the air circulated through said outlet conduit, means for by-passing air around said heat .interchanger, means for controlling the relative amounts of air passed through said heat interchanger and by-passed therearound, valve means for controlling the operation of said heat interchanger, means for controlling the Operation of said by-pass means, means for controlling the operation of the control means for both the heat interchanger and for the by-pass means, means for operating said temperature responsive means so as to cause a gradual increase in the temperature of the air circulated, a heat interchanger for heating the water supplied to the circulated air, and means for controlling the operation of said last named heat in- .terchanger to control the temperature of the water supplied to the circulated air.

10. In a tobacco casing machine, a chamber, means for moistening and heating air and continuously re-circulating such air through said chamber, a Ferris wheel conveyor rotatably mounted in said chamber and includinga central shaft, radially arranged arms extending from said shaft and racks carried by said arms for pivotaily suspending hands of tobacco leaves at all times in vertical position during rotation of said conveyor, and' means disposed about said shaft for preventing water condensed upon said shaft from dropping onto said hands.

11. Apparatus for easing tobacco, comprising in combination-a movable carrier forconveying in a circular path hands of tobacco leaves suspended -vertically on said carrier, a plurality of ducts arranged at spaced points around said circular path and adapted to direct humidified air in substantially radially inward direction with respect to the center of said circular path, one of said ducts being arranged to direct humidified airin a generally upward direction against said hands to separate the leaves thereof, other ducts being arranged to direct humidified air against opposite faces of the leaves of said hands, means for moving said conveyor, means for causing discharge of humidified air from said ducts, and means arranged adjacent the outlets of said other temperature responsive ducts for draining condensed moisture therefrom moving hands of tobacco in a path in a treating chamber while maintaining the hands at all times in vertically arranged positions, passing heated and humidified air currents alternately humidified air, and means for admitting additional air into the apparatus to maintain substantially atmospheric pressure.

15. Apparatus for easing tobacco, comprising in combination a treating chamber, a movable 5 upward through said hands and then against 5 opposite faces of the leaves of said hands during carrier mounted therein for conveying hands of each revolution of the hands, increasing the moistobacco leaves suspended vertically thereon, a ture content of the humidified air, and gradually plurality of ducts arranged to direct humidified increasing the temperature of the humidified air air against said leaves alternately in a direction 10 to prevent occurrence of a dew point condition substantially from tip to butt ends of the leaves 10 in said chamber. for separating the leaves of said hands and then 14. Apparatus for casing tobacco, comprising against opposite faces of the leaves, means for in combination a treating chamber, a movable moving said carrier, means for causing flow of carriermounted'therein for conveying hands humidified air from said ducts, means for con- 15 of tobacco leaves suspended at all times vertitrolling the temperature of said humidified air, 15 cally thereon, a plurality of ducts arranged to means for -admitting additional air into the ap direct humidified air against said leaves alterparatus for raising the air pressure within the nately ina direction substantially from tip to butt treating chamber, and means for adjusting said ends of the leaves for separating the leaves of last named means to vary the quantity of addi- 20 said hands and then against opposite faces of tional air admitted to adjust the air pressure 20 the leaves, means for moving said carrier, means for causing flow of humidified air from said ducts, means for controlling the temperature of said within said treating chamber.

CLARENCE I. VELLNER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No 2,097 168 October 26, 19 7.

CLARENCE I. V'ELLNER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificatio: of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, seconi column, line 68, and page 6, first column, line 1, claims 12 and 15 respectively, before the word "path" insert closed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these' corrections therein that the sam may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. D. 1957.

Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

moving hands of tobacco in a path in a treating chamber while maintaining the hands at all times in vertically arranged positions, passing heated and humidified air currents alternately humidified air, and means for admitting additional air into the apparatus to maintain substantially atmospheric pressure.

15. Apparatus for easing tobacco, comprising in combination a treating chamber, a movable 5 upward through said hands and then against 5 opposite faces of the leaves of said hands during carrier mounted therein for conveying hands of each revolution of the hands, increasing the moistobacco leaves suspended vertically thereon, a ture content of the humidified air, and gradually plurality of ducts arranged to direct humidified increasing the temperature of the humidified air air against said leaves alternately in a direction 10 to prevent occurrence of a dew point condition substantially from tip to butt ends of the leaves 10 in said chamber. for separating the leaves of said hands and then 14. Apparatus for casing tobacco, comprising against opposite faces of the leaves, means for in combination a treating chamber, a movable moving said carrier, means for causing flow of carriermounted'therein for conveying hands humidified air from said ducts, means for con- 15 of tobacco leaves suspended at all times vertitrolling the temperature of said humidified air, 15 cally thereon, a plurality of ducts arranged to means for -admitting additional air into the ap direct humidified air against said leaves alterparatus for raising the air pressure within the nately ina direction substantially from tip to butt treating chamber, and means for adjusting said ends of the leaves for separating the leaves of last named means to vary the quantity of addi- 20 said hands and then against opposite faces of tional air admitted to adjust the air pressure 20 the leaves, means for moving said carrier, means for causing flow of humidified air from said ducts, means for controlling the temperature of said within said treating chamber.

CLARENCE I. VELLNER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No 2,097 168 October 26, 19 7.

CLARENCE I. V'ELLNER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificatio: of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, seconi column, line 68, and page 6, first column, line 1, claims 12 and 15 respectively, before the word "path" insert closed; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these' corrections therein that the sam may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. D. 1957.

Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

